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Intellectual property enforcement, exports and productivity of heterogeneous firms in developing countries: Evidence from China

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  • Lai, Huiwen
  • Maskus, Keith E.
  • Yang, Lei

Abstract

We develop and test a model of heterogeneous firms to study how provincial-level enforcement of intellectual property rights affects Chinese firms’ decisions regarding exit from the market and entry into exporting, technology adoption through capital imports, and process innovation. In this setting the exit and export cutoff productivities differ from those in the standard environment, leading to a different sorting mechanism. The model also predicts that the highest-productivity firms will implement new technologies and innovate more after stronger enforcement. Empirical tests based on a comprehensive dataset of Chinese firms from 2000 to 2006 support the predictions regarding both the extensive and intensive margins of exports, technology adoption, and innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Lai, Huiwen & Maskus, Keith E. & Yang, Lei, 2020. "Intellectual property enforcement, exports and productivity of heterogeneous firms in developing countries: Evidence from China," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:123:y:2020:i:c:s0014292120300052
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2020.103373
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    2. Inmaculada Martínez-Zarzoso & Santiago Chelala, 2021. "Trade agreements and international technology transfer," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 157(3), pages 631-665, August.
    3. Golovan, Sergei & Volchkova, Natalya, 2022. "How costly is exporting? An empirical assessment of trade model with heterogeneous firms," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 68, pages 93-116.
    4. Wu, Lichao & Wei, Yingqi & Wang, Chengang & McDonald, Frank & Han, Xia, 2022. "The importance of institutional and financial resources for export performance associated with technological innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    5. Wenjing Wang & Yiwei Liu, 2022. "Industrial funding and university technology transfer: the moderating role of intellectual property rights enforcement," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 1549-1572, October.
    6. lv, Kangjuan & Pan, Minjie & Huang, Li & Song, Daqiang & Qian, Xinlei, 2023. "Can intellectual property rights protection reduce air pollution? A quasi-natural experiment from China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 210-222.
    7. Hu, Xiaotian & Yin, Xiaopeng, 2022. "Do stronger intellectual property rights protections raise productivity within the context of trade liberalization? Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    8. Jayasekara, Dinithi N. & Fredriksson, Per G., 2021. "Culture, intellectual property rights, and technology adoption," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 317-330.
    9. Dong, Baomin & Guo, Yibei & Hu, Xiaotian, 2022. "Intellectual property rights protection and export product quality: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 143-158.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Intellectual property enforcement; Exports; Firm heterogeneity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital

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